And he says that in addition to saving Chittenden East more than $300,000, the plan would balance class sizes across the district.

(Letovsky) "I think some people are afraid of county-wide supervised unions or state-wide unions, I don't know. But in our case I think it's really just an incremental change. I think it's important to demonstrate that this can be done."

(Host) Vermont Education Commissioner Armando Vilaseca agrees. Tuesday's vote comes less than a month after Vergennes voters rejected a similar school board unification plan for the Addison Northwest Supervisory Union. And Vilaseca says he worries that vote may be inhibiting other school districts from considering mergers.

(Vilaseca) "It does have a chilling effect on me because I do believe that having one school district that was successful in having a regional educational district positive vote would help others see that this is a move in the right direction."

(Host) But opponents of the school consolidation plan say the supervisory union already has enough authority.
Gail Connely of Huntington is the former superintendent of Chittenden East and a staunch opponent of the plan.

(Connely) "I believe the use of our community resources shouldn't be handed over to a regional board."

Connely and other critics of the plan say it would strip them of local control, and could lead to school closings. They also question the financial savings estimated by the board, calling them
unrealistic.